Pages

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Sentimental Sunday - Reel-to-Reel Tape Recordings

Picture obtained from devicepedia.com

In today’s digital world the reel to reel tape recorder is considered an antiquated piece of technology. But back in the day, that was the way we Joneses kept in touch. More specifically, tape recordings were the way daddy and Aunt Martha stayed in contact with their brother, Uncle Claudius, who lived in Florida.

When I think about all the recordings going back and forth between North Carolina and Florida, the thought of them brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. It always felt like we were right there with Uncle Claudius and my cousins. However, as a shy and sometimes withdrawn child, those reel to reel recordings were pure torture for me, also. Daddy and Aunt Martha always had me talking on them. I can still hear it today, “Come talk to your Uncle.” I never said much, usually only saying “Hi Uncle Claudius. This is Mavis.” Of course daddy and Aunt Martha were always standing there telling me to tell him about this or that (my good grades, playing the piano, whatever else was going on in my young life.) Whatever I said definitely had to be pulled out of me.

Like so many things that would be a treasured piece of the past, I’m afraid that none of those old recordings are left. As we moved from reel-to-reel to cassette tapes, the tapings became less and less frequent. The cassette tapes just weren’t the same and right now, I don’t ever remember us sending any of those back and forth. In addition, we never did keep the recording that was received. It was always taped over when doing the return tape. But wouldn’t it be fun if my cousin LaFrieda and I could figure out who sent the last recording and better yet, discover that it didn’t get taped over.

7 comments:

Wow, Mavis. As if I haven't had enough nudging from the ancestors over the past few days, now you've gone and given me another "task" to do! LOL...I don't have as clear a memory as you do of exactly what was on our reel-to-reels, and I don't think we sent them back and forth with anyone, but we did have them, and I know exactly where they are at my mother's house. Time and time again I've bypassed them when I've gone over there to collect things. I've been somewhat afraid to even put them into the player (yes, that's there too) for fear that they might snap and break, as they were so famous for doing if we weren't careful back in the day. But now, inspired by your post, I think I'm going to have to head down to Hampton and give it a try. Somehow, I'm thinking that if nothing else, there will be recording of my (deceased) brother and me in our roles as Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack. Oh, that would be so cool! :)

Hey guys, if you find those tapes, consider consulting with a specialist that can convert from tape to digitial. OOO, and please report back, what an exciting find that would be! I'll be staying tuned (ooooo, play on words there) to see how you do on this.

Back then, dad use to always splice a broken tape back together. Wait, I think I'm thinking of the movies he always made. Will talk about them in another post, maybe.

Sandra,

I'm not sure how that got started. I think part of it was because my family was cheap, so they definitely weren't going to pick up the phone and call and dad's side of the family wasn't the type that wrote letters, either. I think the exception would be that my cousin Lafrieda and I use to write each other.

What a great reminder for each of us to find any old audio tapes that still exist today - and re-record them digitally, if possible. I had some old poloroid photos in my hand this afternoon... they are starting to fade away...

Contacted my cousin to see if she remembers who sent the last one. Will keep you posted if she remembers anything.

Bill,

Have some of those old polaroid pictures, too. I think I had one of their first cameras. It only took black and white pictures. Dad bought me that camera. He later went back and got mom probably the first one that took colored pictures. Anyway, my black and white ones are holding up great but mom's colored ones are definitely fading.

Search This Blog

"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness."--Alex Haley

Blogs I'm Obsessed With

Carnival of African-American Genealogy

Web Site Terms and Conditions of Use

1. Terms

By accessing this web site, you are agreeing to be bound by these
web site Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations,
and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local
laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from
using or accessing this site. The materials contained in this web site are
protected by applicable copyright and trade mark law.

2. Use License

Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials
(information or software) on Conversations With My Ancestors's web site for personal,
non-commercial transitory viewing only. This is the grant of a license,
not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:

modify or copy the materials;

use the materials for any commercial purpose, or for any public display (commercial or non-commercial);

attempt to decompile or reverse engineer any software contained on Conversations With My Ancestors's web site;

remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or

transfer the materials to another person or "mirror" the materials on any other server.

This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by Conversations With My Ancestors at any time. Upon terminating your viewing of these materials or upon the termination of this license, you must destroy any downloaded materials in your possession whether in electronic or printed format.

3. Disclaimer

The materials on Conversations With My Ancestors's web site are provided "as is". Conversations With My Ancestors makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. Further, Conversations With My Ancestors does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the materials on its Internet web site or otherwise relating to such materials or on any sites linked to this site.

4. Limitations

In no event shall Conversations With My Ancestors or its suppliers be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption,) arising out of the use or inability to use the materials on Conversations With My Ancestors's Internet site, even if Conversations With My Ancestors or a Conversations With My Ancestors authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage. Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you.

5. Revisions and Errata

The materials appearing on Conversations With My Ancestors's web site could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. Conversations With My Ancestors does not warrant that any of the materials on its web site are accurate, complete, or current. Conversations With My Ancestors may make changes to the materials contained on its web site at any time without notice. Conversations With My Ancestors does not, however, make any commitment to update the materials.

6. Links

Conversations With My Ancestors has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its Internet web site and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by Conversations With My Ancestors of the site. Use of any such linked web site is at the user's own risk.

7. Site Terms of Use Modifications

Conversations With My Ancestors may revise these terms of use for its web site at any time without notice. By using this web site you are agreeing to be bound by the then current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use.

8. Governing Law

Any claim relating to Conversations With My Ancestors's web site shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

General Terms and Conditions applicable to Use of a Web Site.

Privacy Policy

Your privacy is very important to us. Accordingly, we have developed this Policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. The following outlines our privacy policy.

Before or at the time of collecting personal information, we will identify the purposes for which information is being collected.

We will collect and use of personal information solely with the objective of fulfilling those purposes specified by us and for other compatible purposes, unless we obtain the consent of the individual concerned or as required by law.

We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.

We will collect personal information by lawful and fair means and, where appropriate, with the knowledge or consent of the individual concerned.

Personal data should be relevant to the purposes for which it is to be used, and, to the extent necessary for those purposes, should be accurate, complete, and up-to-date.

We will protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.

We will make readily available to customers information about our policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.

We are committed to conducting our business in accordance with these principles in order to ensure that the confidentiality of personal information is protected and maintained.